Recent Emergency Responses

Fast Facts: California Wildfires

Deployed October 12 – October 19, 2017

FEMA contracted EMS in the state of California

114 ground ambulances deployed (75% ALS, 25% BLS)

15 paratransit vehicles deployed

The 2017 California wildfire season was the most destructive wildfire season on record, with multiple wildfires burning across California. A total of 9,133 fires burned over 1.3 million acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, including five of the 20 most destructive wildland-urban interface fires in the state's history.

In October, 250 wildfires ignited across Northern California causing more than $9.4 billion in insured property losses, becoming the costliest group of wildfires on record. AMR was called on once again by FEMA to deploy in support of the state of California—a first for this contract—and responded by sending both ambulance and paratransit vehicles to Solano County, CA.

Fast Facts: Hurricane Maria

Deployed September 20 – December 31, 2017

FEMA contracted EMS in Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico and USVI

55 paratransit vehicles deployed

6 fixed location EMTs and Paramedics deployed

464 paratransit missions

180 air missions

Hurricane Maria is regarded as the worst natural disaster on record in Dominica and Puerto Rico. The tenth-most intense Atlantic hurricane on record and the most intense tropical cyclone worldwide of 2017, Maria was the thirteenth named storm, eighth consecutive hurricane, fourth major hurricane, second Category 5 hurricane, and the deadliest storm of the hyperactive 2017 Atlantic hurricane season. At its peak, the hurricane caused catastrophic damage and numerous fatalities across the northeastern Caribbean, compounding recovery efforts in the areas of the Leeward Islands already struck by Hurricane Irma. AMR's response to Maria is the longest on record at 102 days. In addition to the lengthy response, resources were deployed outside of the continental U.S.

Fast Facts: Hurricane Irma

Deployed September 17 – September 26, 2017

FEMA contracted EMS in Florida, Puerto Rico and USVI

325 ground ambulances deployed (70% ALS, 30% BLS)

143 paratransit vehicles deployed

350 ground ambulance and paratransit missions

First ever OCONUS deployment for air and fixed site assets

Prior to the demobilization of Harvey, Hurricane Irma threatened Puerto Rico, the USVI and the state of Florida. Hurricane Irma was an extremely powerful and catastrophic Cape Verde-type hurricane, the strongest observed in the Atlantic in terms of maximum sustained winds since Wilma, and the strongest storm on record to exist in the open Atlantic region. It was the first Category 5 hurricane to strike the Leeward Islands on record, followed by Hurricane Maria two weeks later, and is the second-costliest Caribbean hurricane on record, after Maria. AMR was again called to action and for the first time in the history of this contract, was deployed outside of the U.S. In addition to supplying over 300 ground ambulances and nearly 150 paratransit vehicles, AMR supplied fixed site personnel and air assets to support operations in both Puerto Rico and the USVI.

Fast Facts: Hurricane Harvey

Deployed August 25 – September 8, 2017

FEMA contracted EMS in Texas

252 ground ambulances deployed (78% ALS, 22% BLS)

54 air ambulances deployed

363 ground ambulance missions

173 air missions

Hurricane Harvey is tied with Hurricane Katrina as the costliest tropical cyclone on record, inflicting at least $125 billion in damage, primarily from catastrophic rainfall-triggered flooding in the Houston metropolitan area. It was the first major hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. since Wilma in 2005, ending a record 12-year span in which no hurricanes made landfall at such an intensity in the country. In a four-day period, many areas received more than 40 inches of rain as the system slowly meandered over eastern Texas and adjacent waters, causing unprecedented flooding. With peak accumulations of 60.58 inches, Harvey was the wettest tropical cyclone on record in the U.S. The resulting floods inundated hundreds of thousands of homes, displaced more than 30,000 people, and prompted more than 17,000 rescues. AMR was called on to respond with both ground and air ambulances.

2016 Activation >

Fast Facts: Hurricane Matthew

Deployed October 8 – October 14, 2016

FEMA contracted EMS in East Coast affected states

120 ground ambulances deployed (71% ALS, 29% BLS)

19 paratransit vehicles deployed

Fixed location support team EMTs and Paramedics deployed

Hurricane Matthew was a very powerful hurricane that decimated Haiti and Cuba and affected several other Caribbean areas. From there it continued north and severely impacted most of the U.S. southern Atlantic coast states. It was the first Category 5 Atlantic hurricane since 2007. Over 1,600 deaths were reported including 49 in the U.S. It caused record flooding in many areas. Operations Support Teams and Communications Support Teams were also utilized. The deployment lasted seven days, from Oct. 8 to Oct. 14.

2012 Activation >

Fast Facts: Hurricane Isaac

Deployed August 27 -- September 6, 2012

FEMA contracted EMS in Louisiana

111 ground ambulances deployed (76% ALS, 24% BLS)

20 paratransit vehicles deployed

306 mission assignments

410 patient contacts

Hurricane Isaac was a category 2 storm that made landfall in Louisiana on the evening of August 21, 2012 near the mouth of the Mississippi River. Due to its large size, the hurricane produced a relatively large storm surge. At least nine fatalities were confirmed in the United States: five in Louisiana and two each in Mississippi and Florida. AMR/FEMA assets were deployed to Louisiana with Baton Rouge as the staging area. The deployment lasted from August 27 – September 6, 2012 (11 days). Included in this deployment were: 111 ambulances, 20 paratransit vehicles, 4 Operations Support Teams, and 2 Communications Support Teams. FEMA evaluated AMR’s performance as “Excellent” for this deployment.

This is their official comment about the quality of service provided by AMR, “Throughout this activation AMR was a responsive and exceptional vendor! They anticipated each requirement, going above and beyond to meet and exceed thresholds for deployments and demobilization timelines, and made efforts to always and eagerly react to every requirement with ease and great effectiveness. This activation went smoothly due to large part to their past experience and to the leadership involved throughout the operation. They are a very balanced and knowledgeable team as well. Their expertise is evident and was a great support throughout the activation. If we encountered any issues they were also driven to work and provide recommended solutions. It was a pleasure to work with this top notch professional organization!"

Fast Facts: Hurricane Sandy

Deployed October 27 – December 4, 2012 (38 days)

FEMA contracted EMS in New York City metropolitan area

368 ground ambulances deployed (73% ALS, 27% BLS)

2,172 mission assignments

46,471 patient contacts

Hurricane Sandy devastated portions of the Mid‐Atlantic and Northeastern United States during late October 2012. The effects in New York were severe, particularly in New York City, its suburbs, and Long Island. Sandy was the 18th named storm and 10th hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic Hurricane season. It was a Category 2 storm at its peak intensity and on the night of October 29 it made landfall near Atlantic City, New Jersey, as a Category 1 hurricane. It is the largest Atlantic hurricane on record (as measured by diameter). It is the second costliest hurricane in U.S. history. Approximately 131 people died in the U.S. as a result of this storm. FEMA activated AMR for 38 days for this “Superstorm”. This was the longest single Federal EMS deployment in U.S. history. AMR deployed 369 ambulances to New York City, Nassau County and Suffolk in NY. Fixed Location Support Medical Personnel (EMTs and Paramedics) were activated for the first time for this deployment. Operations Support Teams and Communications Support Teams were also utilized.

The USDHHS made the following comment about AMR’s performance: “Please accept our sincere thanks for a job well done! AMR not only provided the excellent service and support we have come to expect, but also was able to roll with the unexpected changes and emerging needs as they arose. In no small part, your support helped us successfully respond to this event. Please extend our heartfelt appreciation to all who worked such long hours for more than a month!”

2011 Activation >

Fast Facts: Hurricane Irene

Deployed August 26 – August 31, 2011 (6 days)

FEMA contracted EMS in New York City metropolitan area

188 ground ambulances deployed (70% ALS, 30% BLS)

1,188 mission assignments

1,170 patient contacts

Hurricane Irene was a large and powerful Atlantic hurricane that left extensive flood and wind damage along its path through the Caribbean, the United States East Coast and as far north as Atlantic Canada. It made landfall over Eastern North Carolina’s Outer Banks on August 27 as a Category 1 hurricane. After briefly reemerging over water, Irene made a second U.S. landfall in New Jersey on August 28. Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm as it made its third U.S. landfall in the Coney Island area of Brooklyn, New York, at approximately 9:00 AM on August 28. Considerable damage occurred in eastern upstate New York and Vermont, which suffered from the worst flooding in centuries. A mandatory evacuation order was issued on August 26 for low-lying areas of New York City. The President issued a state of emergency declaration for the New York metropolitan area. The nation’s largest mass transit system was completely shut down. The Staten Island University Hospital, Coney Island Hospital, New York University Hospitals Center, and the Veterans Administration Hospital began evacuating patients on August 26. Sixteen nursing homes and adult care facilities were also evacuated. FEMA ordered AMR to deploy 175 Federally-contracted ambulances and crews into New York to assist with evacuation and augment local 9-1-1 EMS response.

FEMA and the USDHHS had this to say about the deployment: “Very smooth. Congratulations on a textbook deployment.” “Excellent work by all of you involved in this mission. This was the best in-theater coordination by FEMA and AMR with the Federal EMS Contract. The mission was a success and the AMR Incident Command Team did an outstanding job. Thanks for the great work on this mission, Very professionally done under fast changing and difficult circumstances.”

2009 Activation >

In anticipation of record crowds and increased emergency medical service activity for the 2009 Presidential Inauguration, FEMA activated its Federal EMS Contract with AMR. The government ordered federal aid to supplement the Washington DC response efforts. AMR was tasked with providing appropriate assistance for certain emergency protective measures that may be needed to save lives and protect public health and safety. This was designated as a National Security Special Event (NSSE) by the Department of Homeland Security. AMR and its disaster response network subcontractors responded with 144 ambulances and 15 paratransit buses. Most of these resources were assigned to support the Washington DC Fire Department EMS system. Some assets were assigned to Maryland to provide emergency care to the large numbers of riders utilizing the public transit system out of the Capitol.

In evaluating AMR’s performance of this deployment, FEMA had this to say: “We have come to rely upon AMR during national disasters and once again, they have done a great job. The AMR/FEMA contract is an all-hazards agreement and this deployment certainly demonstrates the diversity of AMR to respond to major events other than hurricanes. FEMA is proud to be represented by this group of trained EMS professionals.”

2008 Activation >

Fast Facts: Hurricanes Gustav and Ike

The 2008 hurricane season was one for the record books. On September 1, 2008, the eye of Hurricane Gustav made landfall in south Louisiana prompting the largest evacuation in that state’s history - 2 million people. The size of this storm prompted FEMA to activate the AMR/FEMA Federal EMS Contract in three (3) separate states simultaneously; Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. This was unprecedented.

Fast Facts: Hurricane Ike

Deployed September 9 – October 4, 2008 (25 days)

FEMA contracted EMS in two states simultaneously: TX and LA

540 ground ambulances

Ambulances responded from 34 states

25 air ambulances (fixed and rotary wing)

163 Paratransit vehicles (to provide 3,000 passenger seats)

While still recovering from Gustav, Hurricane Ike made landfall in Texas on September 12, 2008. At one point, the diameter of Ike’s forceful winds made it the most massive Atlantic hurricane recorded. FEMA called upon AMR once again. The government then requested the maximum EMS resources for the Atlantic and Gulf states (zones 1 and 2), be deployed for Hurricanes Gustav and Ike simultaneously. AMR and its network providers responded accordingly. AMR established forward operating bases (FOB) in each state (Jackson MS, Alexandria LA, San Antonio TX, Houston TX and Galveston TX). The EMS deployment to these back-to-back disasters established a new benchmark in EMS disaster response. Never before have so many ground ambulances, air ambulances, and paratransit vehicles been deployed to assist disaster victims. Ambulances responded from 35 states to Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Approximately 50% of the ground ambulances were supplied by AMR's subcontracted network providers. 150 different ambulance companies responded.

To complicate matters, in between Gustav and Ike came Hurricane Hanna, that threatened the Atlantic Coast and made landfall on the South Carolina / North Carolina border. AMR released all deployed ambulances from states affected by Hanna so they could return home and backfilled with additional ambulances from non-vulnerable states. These contiguous disaster deployments are by far the largest mobilization of EMS disaster resources in U.S. history.

SDHHS Lt. Commander Bruce Dell characterized AMR’s performance as follows: “Deploying roughly 600 ambulances across three Gulf States is grossly equivalent to a U.S. Army Armored Division deployed across an area more than twice the size of Iraq… It has been a pleasure working in the environment of professionalism and excellence which defines AMR.”

2007 Activation >

In August of 2007, catastrophic Hurricane Dean threatened to make landfall in south Texas. State officials requested Federal assistance with evacuation and the AMR/FEMA Federal EMS Contract was activated for the first time. The government asked AMR to deploy 300 ground ambulances, 25 air ambulances, and paratransit vehicles to transport 3,500 passengers. AMR coordinated the mobilization of ambulances, aircraft and paratransit vehicles from 30 states to meet this challenge. The response from AMR’s disaster provider network was unprecedented.

FEMA described this deployment as “the largest mobilization of EMS resources in the history of the United States”. AMR’s Hurricane Dean deployment was evaluated by FEMA and the results have been posted publicly by the National Institutes of Health. AMR attained either “outstanding”or “excellent” evaluation scores from FEMA and the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services in all categories. The evaluation states, “This firm acted in the most professional manner and I would easily and strongly recommend this firm to any Federal agency. The government’s overall satisfaction with this deployment was extremely high.”